Asia - Seven Hours in Bangkok

My wife and I will fly into Bangkok at about 13:00 on a Saturday in a few weeks and will have approximately seven hours to spend before catching a night train to Nong Khai and, ultimately, Vientiane.

I'm hoping that someone who has more BKK knowledge than I -- essentially none -- can confirm that we'll have plenty of time to get into the city, stow our bags at Hualamphong and see a bit of the city before catching the train. We're thinking of heading to Jim Thompson's house for a tour, then having dinner in the Siam Square area.

Can anyone offer any advice on the following specific questions?

1. Since we need to leave our bags at Hualamphong, are we better off taking a taxi or the train from Don Muang Station?

1a. Is there, as I have seen evidence of elsewhere on the Internet, a secure left baggage facility at Hualamphong?

2. Do we actually have enough time to make it into the city, see a sight or two and have dinner?

3. I've been watching berth and seat availability at railway.co.th, and there appears to be plenty of room over the coming weeks. The numbers change from day to day, so I suspect these numbers are accurate. Can anyone confirm that a) the numbers *are* accurate, and b) I can buy tickets for same-day travel on the 1st and 2nd class trains?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

1. Take the taxi. Don't know about 1a, but there are several hotels in the area that can do that for you for a small fee.

2. Yes, especially since Hua Lamphong is serviced by the city's MRT subway system, which also connects to the BTS skytrain for Siam Square.

3. Don't know about a), but you can definitely buy tickets for same-day travel from the train station and on the route you want I doubt there would be much availability hassle, especially for 1st class. As much as I am a fan of train travel, though, I don't like the railway network in Thailand much, it's way too slow and not in the best of shape quality-wise...why not take a flight into Nong Khai/Udon Thani?

why not take a flight into Nong Khai/Udon Thani?

Thanks for your quick reply. I hadn't considered flying within Thailand, but will look into that.

Greg

You can use Nok Air or AirAsia for quick, cheap travel to Udon Thani...it's close enough to where you need to go.

1. Take the taxi. Don't know about 1a, but there are several hotels in the area that can do that for you for a small fee.
Seconded. Train service between Don Muang and the city is erratic, especially on weekends, and you'll need to lug your bags a long way over a bridge across the highway just to get to the platforms.

2. Yes, especially since Hua Lamphong is serviced by the city's MRT subway system, which also connects to the BTS skytrain for Siam Square.
It's a very roundabout route to do it this way though, and a taxi will be much faster, esp. as there shouldn't be much of a traffic jam on Saturday.

My wife and I will fly into Bangkok at about 13:00 on a Saturday in a few weeks and will have approximately seven hours to spend before catching a night train to Nong Khai and, ultimately, Vientiane.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

When you exit customs, turn left and look for Thai Limo Service counter - you can rent a car, driver and guide for 4-6 hours, which will include touristy stuff and dinner, etc.

Cost - not sure but it won't break the bank. Maybe $75-100 max and then a small tip to guide. Just be careful re shopping with group - they all get commissions!

Go to Siam Paragon. Everything is there. And I mean, everything. Check out the food courts! HUGE.



http://www.siamparagon.co.th/

Thanks, everyone, for your advice. :)

you ought to shlep over the ERAWAN SHRINE....if it has been restored, it will be way cool...

Go to Siam Paragon. Everything is there. And I mean, everything. Check out the food courts! HUGE.



http://www.siamparagon.co.th/

What is the best/fastest way to get there from BKK? Anything to do right near the airport hotels or is there a need to go into the city for any of the good shopping and meals?

The best/fastest/easiest way to get to Paragon (essentially Siam Square) from the airport might be to just take a metered taxi all the way, if traffic were a concern then taxi to Mo Chit BTS, then BTS to Siam.

Going to Hua Lamphong train station from the airport the best choice, on a Saturday, would be to take a metered taxi. A rough estimated arrival time based on a 2 PM landing would be 3:30 PM. There is a left luggage service at Hua Lamphong (not sure what qualifies as secure though), it's open 04:00 to 23:00, and is in the front-left corner (if outside facing the main facade of the station), or back-left if inside looking up at the departure listings.

Then taxi back to Siam, Jim Thompson house arriving 4:15 PM, not sure but it probably closes at 5 PM. Then over to Siam Sq. for a bite to eat. You should be able to make it back to Hua Lamphong, get your bags, buy tickets and make the 8:45 Pm departure for Nong Khai (the first stop will be BKK!). Twelve hours later you're in Nong Khai. There is a VIP bus from Mo Chit, takes ~ 10 hours, departs 10 PM-ish.

The Brahma statue at the Erawan Shrine has been replaced or restored, as of a few weeks ago.

Thanks, transpac. When we were there in May, we did pretty much what you suggested (although we took the subway and skytrain to the Siam Square area), and the timing worked out just about exactly as you said it would.

The train was comfortable and we slept well. While more expensive than the overnight bus, I'm sure, it was a very convenient way to get to Vientiane.